Contractor plans to file garnishment claim for bar project

By: Beth Kevit, [email protected]//September 23, 2013//

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A Milwaukee bar owner has not yet paid a more than $38,000 judgment for work done by a contractor at One Sports Lounge, 1007 Old World Third St., prompting Hickorybridge Construction to attempt to garnish the bar's bank account. (File photo by Kevin Harnack) — A Milwaukee bar owner has not yet paid a more than $38,000 judgment for work done by a contractor at One Sports Lounge, 1007 Old World Third St., prompting Hickorybridge Construction to attempt to garnish the bar’s bank account. (File photo by Kevin Harnack)

A Milwaukee contractor plans to file a garnishment claim against a downtown bar that has not paid more than $38,000 in renovation bills.

Eric Stelske and his business, Hickorybridge Construction LLC, in April won a $38,161.37 judgment in Milwaukee County Circuit Court against One Sports Lounge LLC.

But Eric Mahoney, the bar’s owner, has not paid. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Stelske refused to comment Monday.

His attorney, Christopher Nyenhuis, of Milwaukee-based Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, confirmed Hickorybridge’s intent to file the garnishment claim against One Sports. Nyenhuis said the complaint is not finalized but could be filed next week. He declined to comment further.

One Sports Lounge LLC is listed on the state Department of Financial Institutions’ database as administratively dissolved as of Sept. 10. One Sports was not open Monday morning, but the bar did not appear to be closed permanently.

A company is administratively dissolved if it does not file annual reports with DFI, department spokesman George Althoff said. The state, he said, no longer recognizes the company, but the DFI cannot prevent that company from continuing to operate.

Stelske sued One Sports in March 2012 after Mahoney stopped paying for a $50,671.37 renovation. Stelske’s company had updated the bar’s electrical and plumbing systems, built a raised area, upgraded the hardwood floors and improved the bathrooms, among other things, according to court documents.

Mahoney has claimed Stelske was an investor in the business and the renovation was his contribution. Stelske denied those claims and won a default judgment against One Sports in May 2012 after Mahoney failed to respond to the complaint.

But Mahoney and his attorney had the lawsuit reopened in August 2012, claiming the bar owner’s response to the lawsuit had been lost in the mail. Then Mahoney’s attorney withdrew in November 2012, citing difficulty contacting him and in collecting payment.

Stelske won summary judgment in April.

At the time, Mahoney said he did not know whether his bar would remain open or he would find the money to pay the contractor.

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